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what\'s the controversy here?

of course Michelin has different compuonds for teams to choose from....

and it is true that there is a Michelin designed and patented suspension "trick" that is exclusive to Renault. I think it's called something like constant contact something or other. So yeah in a sense Renault is getting extra help from Michelin.<p align=center>
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Thanks AC

About OPT (Educated answer, AndyO, take notes)

Few facts about OPT:

The tire wars in F1 took a controversial turn after it was revealed that Michelin was developing a radical rear-suspension system that was made made available only to Renault. This is back in early 2003.

It is true that Renault had been testing a rear-suspension system that originated with Michelin and named OPT, it translates as Optimum Contact Patch

Testing have been on-going since late in 2002. Info made it public early/mid 2003.

What OPT does is automatically adjust the camber in the rear wheels to allow the maximum amount of tire-surface-to-road-surface contact while the car is cornering.

It essentially becomes a new generation of traction control without using the technology. This gives the Renaults a tremendous advantage in acceleration off the corners over its competitors.

OPT is a mechanical suspension device permitting the best contact with the track. usually, this contact is lost when a normal car leans over in a corner, but OPT uses a complex linkage that keeps the wheel upright even when the car is tilted in a corner.

For the Renaullt, this system translates into significant improvement in lap times, cornering performance, in acceleration and braking, as well as improving the wear from the tires.

This added to the fact that Renault lowered the CG, allowed them to be able to use SOFTER compound tires.

Of course Michelin provides different compounds to the teams, BUT Renaults was able to use the SOFTER ones whereas the other teams could not benefit from those due to chassissetup and excessive wear.

Renault has been in on the new technology from the start, did all the testing for Mcihelin,